Francophonie: in Rwanda, the timid return of French
The Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo, congratulated by journalists and delegates at the 17th summit of French-speaking countries.
Ludovic MARIN / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In the country of origin of the Secretary General of the Francophonie (OIF), French is, paradoxically, no longer obvious, even if it is still one of the official languages of the country alongside Kinyarwanda, English and kiswahili.
Formerly the language of public education, French was replaced by English in schools in 2008, when relations between Paris and Kigali were at their lowest.
Today, however, it is making a timid comeback.
On this international day of La Francophonie, RFI asked Rwandan students their opinion on the issue.
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With our correspondent in Kigali,
Laure Broulard
In front of the University of Kigali, Boris, a computer science student, has been speaking French since childhood.
“
For me, who has always spoken French, it's very important.
But for others, it has become a secondary language, I would say.
"
According to him, the election, in 2018, of Louise Mushikiwabo, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda at the head of the OIF, can be a game-changer.
“
It will push young people to take an interest in the French language.
I can already see that around me.
And it's new because people hadn't been interested in French for a long time
”.
Brice, 22, is more reserved.
“
I speak English at university, but my parents speak French.
Many people consider that once you are an adult, French is very difficult to learn, and then, some do not like this language.
"
This generation remains marked by the abrupt transition of the school system from French to English in 2008. Lania began her studies in the private sector in French, she struggled to learn English when she switched to the public .
And now would like to relearn the language of Molière.
“
It's a language that attracts me.
And I am happy that the level and teaching of French is progressing in the country…
”
In October 2020, 25 teachers recruited by the OIF and the Rwandan education office arrived in Kigali as part of a new international mobility scheme for the Francophonie.
Their mission has since been to strengthen the capacities of Rwandan establishments in teaching French.
But the first language of the country remains, by far, Kinyarwanda, spoken by all the Rwandan population.
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Rwanda
Francophonie
French language